Book Two: Earth is the second season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, an American animated television series created and produced by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko for Nickelodeon.

Meanwhile, due to their actions at the North Pole in Book One, Zuko and Iroh are declared traitors by the Fire Nation and desert their country, becoming fugitives in the Earth Kingdom.

Zuko remembers his childhood, including Azula's chilling and callous behavior towards the death of Iroh's only child Lu Ten and his own perseverance through lack of support from his father.

At an oasis, the group encounters Professor Zei from Ba Sing Se University, who tells them of Wan Shi Tong's library in the Si Wong desert, said to contain a vast collection of knowledge.

Sokka discovers a crucial weakness of the Fire Nation that could end the war: an upcoming solar eclipse will prevent firebending for its duration.

The move functions as a message to his opponent, who then helps protect Iroh and Zuko from Xin Fu and Master Yu, who decide to take a break from hunting Toph to try and collect the bounty on the two fugitives.

After leaving the desert, the group fortuitously meets Suki and attempts to lead a pregnant woman named Ying and her family through the Serpent's Pass, a dangerous route to the outskirts of Ba Sing Se.

Though their offer to help is initially refused by the Earth Kingdom general at the Outer Wall, Team Avatar begins finding a way to take down the drill.

They soon discover that the bureaucracy surrounding the king, enforced by the Dai Li, the "cultural authority" of Ba Sing Se, blocks them from making contact with him.

The quartet is eventually found out and greeted by Long Feng, Grand Secretariat of Ba Sing Se and the head of the Dai Li.

Long Feng reveals that the Earth King has no true political power, only serving as a figurehead and is completely oblivious of the war, while he and the Dai Li control the city, ensuring Ba Sing Se remains a utopia.

Long Feng makes an indirect threat regarding their goal of finding Appa if they speak out, noting that they will now be watched 24/7 by Dai Li agents.

Dispirited, confused, and longing for Aang, Appa returns to his childhood home at the Eastern Air Temple, where he discovers a mysterious guru, Pathik, has taken residence in the ruins.

Appa arrives at Ba Sing Se, but just short of reuniting with Aang he is ambushed and captured by Long Feng, leaving the footprint that Momo found.

The season's executive producers and co-creators are Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, who worked alongside head writer and co-producer Aaron Ehasz.

[2] Episodes were written by a team of writers, which consisted of Aaron Ehasz, Elizabeth Welch, Tim Hedrick, John O'Bryan; along with creators DiMartino and Konietzko.

[16] Powers also comments: Without dumbing down its characters, plots, or humour, and without overtly taming-up the action or peril, Avatar manages to enthral children and adults, ages 4 to 56...There is a genuine classic feel to the series, which uses actual Asian culture and lore as its base.

Like Star Wars, the creative forces behind the show have tapped into that basic, generation spanning storytelling that will live long after the series' youngest fans are old and bitter.